Overview and Gameplay
Earth faces invasion by the Seven Stars Alliance, and the fighter SYD is sent through vertically scrolling battlefields to stop it. This NES conversion of SNK’s 1985 arcade shooter divides combat between airborne enemies, destroyed with lasers, and ground targets, attacked with missiles.
Pyramids conceal upgrades, energy, penalties, and symbols that can warp SYD forward or backward through the campaign. Each stage demands careful weapon use before ending in a boss encounter with specific weak points.
Controls And Mechanics
- Control Pad: Move SYD in four directions.
- B: Fire lasers at airborne targets.
- A: Launch missiles at ground targets.
- Select: Open and operate the special-weapon selection screen.
- Start: Begin, pause, or resume play.
Speed, laser, and missile symbols strengthen SYD. Stored energy powers selectable systems such as the Shield, Homing missiles, Octo fire, Thunder, and the wide-range Canon. Losing power can make the already demanding enemy patterns especially punishing.
Version Notes
The Japanese Famicom release was titled ASO: Armored Scrum Object. The North American edition uses the title Alpha Mission and presents its story, enemies, and equipment names in English.
Release And Credits
- NES release: October 1987 in North America
- Developer: SNK Corporation
- Publisher: SNK Corporation of America
- Original platform: Arcade, 1985
